Future of healthcare: hospitals and patients in transition!

Future of healthcare: hospitals and patients in transition!

Peter McDonald, the head of the social security system, is causing a lot of discussion in Vienna with his current demands for health care reform. He calls for cross-state hospital planning that should not only improve the quality of care, but also cooperation in the healthcare system. “We urgently need more personal responsibility from patients when it comes to preventative care,” says McDonald. Because demographic changes bring new challenges. By 2030, a further 250 medical positions, 150 primary care centers and 50 specialist centers will be needed in Austria to cope with the increasing demand, reports The press.

Demographic change will present Austria with completely new challenges by 2050: The number of people over 65 will increase from the current 1.8 million to 2.7 million. And while people over 65 go to the doctor twice as often, the number of hospital beds in the country is falling, from 53,000 to just 40,000 in the last 30 years. McDonald believes that the importance of hospitals will decrease in the future, which is why a rethink is necessary. “We need patient-friendly implementations that focus on quality,” he adds.

New ways in healthcare

In order to meet the increasing demand, McDonald is also calling for new planning for inpatient care. Digitalization plays an important role here: innovative forms of cooperation between doctors and other healthcare professionals are intended to increase productivity and increase efficiency in the outpatient sector. The challenges of digitalization and prevention are among the most pressing issues of the moment, as stated in an article by Economic service is discussed.

The article highlights that the German healthcare system is also required to adapt to demographic change. Reducing bureaucracy and a stronger focus on patient-oriented services are necessary to ensure quality and efficiency in the healthcare sector.

Digital health applications as an opportunity

Another important approach to improving healthcare is digital health applications (DiGA). These have been able to be prescribed in Germany since 2020 and open up new options for patients vfa reported. DiGA provide access to tested digital medical products that not only increase patients' autonomy, but can also potentially close gaps in care.

However, in order to exploit the full potential of digital medicine, fair pricing structures as well as transparent assessments and realistic approval criteria are necessary. McDonald emphasizes that long-term planning and budget horizons are required to ensure the availability of cutting-edge medicine even in an aging population.

Overall, it is clear that both new forms of cooperation in the healthcare system and digital solutions to increase efficiency and quality assurance are urgently needed. The challenges are great, but with a good hand in planning and implementation, Austria can be positioned for the future.